Michael G. Santos

My name is Michael Santos. I write books to teach and inspire people going through struggles, and to show people how to be resilient. Regardless of what challenges we’re enduring, with disciplined, deliberate strategies, we can always find or create opportunities to recalibrate.

In 1984, when I was 20, I began trafficking in cocaine. In 1987, authorities arrested me and a judge sentenced me to serve a 45-year prison term. While incarcerated, leaders like Socrates, Nelson Mandela, Viktor Frankl, and others inspired me to work toward becoming a better person. Rather than dwelling on the predicament my actions I created, I began working to reconcile with society. That commitment led to a three-part strategy: 1) Work to educate myself; 2) work to contribute to society; and 3) work to build a strong support network.

I concluded my obligation to the Bureau of Prisons after 26 years, in 2013. Since then I’ve been building businesses and creating opportunities. Through books, the Prison Professors podcasts and Youtube channel, I strive to show others how to overcome a struggle. We all can learn lessons in resilience and use those lessons to advantage in our life.